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Why even take the chance of not getting accepted into the area you wish to see. Clean up first. Good personal hygiene should be an accepted rule of thumb when you are interacting with others in any situation. Have a good day.

If you can afford to ... have a custom touring bike made. Yes it will cost you more but I had one made and the difference between my trek and custom touring bike was unbelieveable. Sooo much more comfortable to ride and all the components and gearing needed for a great touring experience. Cheers!

Hi everyone,We will be coming down from Vancouver and will be purchasing the ACA maps to follow along.Just wondering if the road directions go around or through Los Angeles andif this is a harrowing experience. My wife and I are even considering puttingour bikes on a bus and bypass Los Angeles if the traffic is too craxy. If youhave travelled this route I would appreciate hearing from anyone with thierexperiences. Our final destination is San Diego. Thanks for any responses.

For those that have toured and stayed at campgrounds, I waswondering about safely leaving your bike and gear during theday at your campsite while you check out the local sites by foot.Has anyone had problems with thieves or is this just not advisable?Any tips would be helpful. Thanks.

Hi everyone,Just looking to purchase a 3 season synthetic sleeping bag. Cost is not an issue. I'm wondering who is using what brand and if you are happy with it? My only concern is to keep it as small as possible for travelling on my bike. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your responses. Have a great day!

Like everyone has said "get the Brooks saddle" Here's the link: http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/saddles/touring+%26+trekking/B17+Imperial/I bought this one and it made a world of difference within the first 50km. Don't even think twice ... just get it. Now if you really want a treat and like to keep your back feeling great on long rides get the Nitropro plus seatpost. The combination of both make it a sweet ride. Here's the link:http://www.nitropro.com/ I know it will set you back a few dollars, but if you like riding a lot and want to forget about any discomfort and just enjoy the ride, the Brooks and Nitro are the way to go. Cheers!

Hey guys,I know there are some great bikes to purchase from a variety of dealers with most of their bikes being built out of North America. Why not have a custom bike built instead? You'll not only get everything you want with a selection of components but also a bike that is sized to your body. I'm going this route within the next few months. Your custom purchase will help the local economy as well. I guess if you're in a rush, a store purchase is your only option.

I'm about to have a custom touring bike made with bar end shifters. Another rider sent me an email saying I should reconsider as he thought they were a little twitchy to use. The alternate is of course going to something like shimano 105 shifters. Going this route would also drastically change the gearing available. Anyone with experience using both would be appreciated. I've primarily been riding mountain bikes so this is out of my knowledge base. Thanks for any replys!

Considering what you would spend on a Surly or LHT you might consider having a custom bike made. You'd get exactly what you want and a perfect fit to you body size. The money you spend would also benefit your local economy and not China's!